We’re officially one game into the NBA Finals with New York taking an early lead. The NBA playoffs have been such a fun journey into learning a new sport for me. The pressure, the high stakes, the comebacks, all of it proves that a series isn’t over until it’s actually over.

But at the same time, while we’re all feeling the game day emotions as fans and waiting to see who becomes champion, I recently realized how important it is to enjoy the moments we’re in because they don’t last forever.

A sweet reminder that Karl-Anthony Towns gave us all after Game 1.

KAT’s path to the NBA Finals feels deeper than basketball.

For years, he’s been a really talented player, but his journey has also been marked by immense personal loss. In 2020, he not only lost his mother, Jacqueline Cruz-Towns, to COVID-19, but also lost seven additional family members during the pandemic.

KAT has never shied away from talking about how much his mom meant to him and the impact her loss has had on his life, both on and off the court. At the same time, he has been open about the survivor’s guilt and grief he has carried while navigating so much loss in such a short period of time.

What stood out to me after Game 1 wasn’t the stats or even the win itself.

It was hearing KAT talk about feeling like a little kid again and feeling like his mom was in the arena with him.

That touched my heart.

Here he is, playing on one of the biggest stages in basketball, living out a dream that he’s worked toward his entire life. Yet the emotion that seemed to stand out most wasn’t pressure, expectation, or even the desire to win.

It was joy and gratitude.

And I think experiencing loss, especially on that scale, changes the way you see life.

When you’ve had people, moments, or chapters taken from you far sooner than expected, you become more aware that nothing is guaranteed. You learn that even the most beautiful moments are temporary, which somehow makes them even more meaningful.

That’s part of why KAT’s comments resonated with me so much. It felt like he understood something many of us spend years learning: that some moments aren’t meant to be rushed through on the way to the next goal. They’re meant to be experienced, appreciated, and remembered while we’re living them.

It was the kind of childlike excitement that reminds us why we fall in love with something in the first place.

From what we’ve seen during the Knicks playoff run, this team is full of fighters. There’s obviously a strong professional desire to win a championship. But I think it’s beautiful that KAT didn’t allow the pursuit of the outcome to overshadow the experience of the moment itself.

He allowed himself to feel it, appreciate the moment and remember who helped him get there.

Sometimes we’re so focused on reaching the destination that we forget to enjoy the fact that we’re already living through a moment we once prayed for, worked for, or dreamed about.

KAT reminded me that it’s okay to pause and take it all in.

There are some moments we all wish we could stay in forever.

Family traditions. Sunday afternoons watching football. The routines we loved. The first time you meet your favorite athlete. Championship runs.

Those chapters always seem to go by so quickly.

But sometimes the moments we wish could last forever take on a different meaning over time. We may not get to stay in them, but we learn to carry them with us in different ways.

And as much as I’d love to live in some of those moments forever, that’s not reality.

Because life has a way of reminding us that nothing is guaranteed.

The people we love, the seasons we enjoy, and the moments we wish could last forever are all temporary. And while that can be difficult to accept, it also gives those moments their meaning.

It reminds us to be present and to appreciate what we have while we have it.

Maybe that's why, as sports fans, these moments mean so much to us.

The New York Knicks haven’t won an NBA championship since 1973. That’s 53 years of waiting, hoping, rebuilding, disappointment, and believing that maybe next year would be different. Some Knicks fans weren’t even born the last time the team won a championship.

Imagine how much sweeter this Finals run feels because of everything that came before it.

If the Knicks won every year, it would be amazing, but it wouldn’t mean the same thing.

The waiting is part of what makes this moment special.

But not every hardship exists to teach us a lesson, and not every loss feels meaningful when we’re living through it.

Some experiences simply remind us how precious life is.

Sometimes grief doesn’t make us stronger. It simply makes us more aware of what matters.

When you’ve experienced loss, you learn that moments aren’t valuable because they last forever. They’re valuable because they don’t.

While sports and life exist on very different scales, I think that’s part of why we become so attached to certain teams, seasons, and memories.

As an NFL girl at heart, I think about the 2024 Philadelphia Eagles all the time.

Part of me still isn’t over that team.

Every offseason reminds me that sports never stand still. By this year, probably half of the 2024 roster are already gone. Players get traded. Some retire. Others leave for new opportunities or bigger contracts elsewhere.

And while I understand that’s part of the business, it doesn’t always make it easier.

Because eventually you realize you weren’t just attached to the players.

You were attached to what that team represented.

The excitement of that season. The memories attached to it. The people you watched games with. The version of yourself that got to experience it.

Every season gives us a choice. We can spend all our time wishing things stayed the same, or we can learn to appreciate a season for what it was and embrace whatever comes next.

Neither sports nor life allow us to stay in our favorite chapter forever.

The seasons we wish would end teach us resilience. The seasons we wish would stay forever teach us gratitude. And both are necessary.

So while we’re all focused and excited about who will lift the trophy at the end of this series (go new york <3), I’m trying to remind myself not to rush to the ending.

One day these games will be highlights.

This Finals run will be a memory.

And the version of life you’re in will eventually become part of the story too.

So for now, I’m choosing to recognize that the beauty of the game is that we get to experience it while it’s happening.

Because maybe the goal isn’t to stay in our favorite chapters forever, but to let them shape us enough that we carry a piece of them into every chapter that comes next.

wellness tip

• Take yourself on a nostalgic date - go back to a place you loved as a kid. maybe it's the ice cream shop you always visited, the bookstore where you spent entire afternoons, the neighborhood park you would sit on the swings at, or the pizza place your family used to visit after church.

  • if you do go, i'd love to hear where your date takes you <3 bonus points if you recruit the people you used to go with to join you.

    Leave a comment

out my cart

• Cymbiotika Vitamin D3 + K2 + CoQ10 - i'm officially in my immunity-building era. adding this to my routine as a reminder that wellness is easier to maintain than it is to rebuild.

• EADEM Le Chouchou Lip Balm - my favorite lip balm at the moment. non-sticky, super hydrating, and always in my bag.

memory bank

• 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge - my home for a brooklyn staycation. waking up to views of the bridge never gets old and it’s another reminder that sometimes you don’t need to leave your city to feel somewhere new.

• DUMBO Viewpoint (39-21 Washington St, Brooklyn, NY 11201)- somehow, in my entire lifetime of living in new york, this was my first time seeing the famous manhattan bridge view in person. proof that there are still corners of your own city to see.

• % Arabica - ordered an iced honey latte with oat milk before wandering around the waterfront. it was such a beautiful day for a walk by the bridge.

• 7th Street Burger - a simple, (kinda greasy) burger and fries after walking around all afternoon. sometimes the best memory deposits aren’t fancy or the healthiest. they’re just exactly what you were craving in the moment.

• Red Coffee Stand - such a small, cute coffee stand. i ordered a warm matcha latte with oat milk and loved seeing the regulars’ loyalty cards taped all over the stand. part reminder to never forget your card, part neighborhood charm. it felt very brooklyn.

explore →

Happy (almost) NBA Finals. It’s been so fun watching the games, reading everyone’s content, and learning about the history behind each team and series.

The finals don’t actually start until June 3rd and with OKC & the Spurs heading into game 7, it genuinely feels like a toss up on who’s going to play against the Knicks next week. My hope is that the Spurs pull through so we get a Knicks vs. Spurs Finals, which would be a full history re-run from 1999 and honestly too poetic to ignore.

But regardless of who wins the western conference finals, watching the Knicks this postseason has been really special. To be fair, this is my first year consistently watching and as a Knicks fan (and VJ Maxx loyalist… can’t help it lol), you can really see how hard they have been fighting for this.

At the center of it all is the King of New York, Jalen Brunson, a 29 year old point guard who didn’t just grow up with hoop dreams, he grew up inside them. His dad, Rick Brunson played nine seasons in the NBA, hopping between eight different teams on unguaranteed contracts, never really getting the stability or the ending he deserved, but is now a proud father and assistant coach to the same team his son plays for and the same team he played for years ago. Crazy full circle moment.

But just because Jalen’s dad was an NBA player doesn’t mean his path was paved for him. If anything, from a young age, he watched what the grind really looked like and still had to go out and prove himself every single step of the way.

He went to Villanova where he won two NCAA championships, took home the Wooden Award, the Naismith Award (both celebrate the best college player of the year), and the Bob Cousy Award (Top Men's Collegiate Point Guard). He was also later named College Basketball Player of the Decade by Sporting News. By every measure he was one of the best college players of his generation.

And then draft night came. 32 players got called before him and he was picked 33rd overall.

For a player who had just collected nearly every major award in college basketball, being picked 33rd stings. That's 32 players called before you regardless of everything you gave and all of the accolades you received. It tells you exactly what the league thought of his ceiling from the very beginning. Too small. Too slow. The kind of player who can “succeed in college but probably won’t translate”. It seemed like critics thought he didn’t have the size or explosiveness that teams wanted. What he did have was everything that doesn’t necessarily show up on a measuring tape, but for a long time, the league consistently downplayed him.

Jalen spent his first four years in Dallas playing behind Luka Doncic, learning and working hard. But when his moment came during the 2022 playoffs with Luka sidelined, he showed up in a way that people started to notice. And Dallas had the chance to lock him in and didn’t so that summer, Jalen signed with the Knicks as an unrestricted free agent, choosing one of the most pressure filled, historically heartbroken fan bases in professional sports. Eventually, becoming the heartbeat of the franchise.

In hindsight, it’s easy to say that him reaching the NBA finals was inevitable because, well… we can see that he’s here now, but sometimes that’s the trap of looking backwards. Nothing about Jalen Brunson’s path was actually guaranteed.

I’m sure plenty of second round picks with great college careers disappear into the league and never find their moment. Plenty of “undersized” guards get labeled early and carry that label for the rest of their career. Plenty of players go to a pressure franchise like the Knicks and crumble under the weight of it.

What made it feel inevitable wasn’t talent alone, It was the combination of talent, character, timing, and choice. He had to choose the Knicks. The Knicks had to be ready to build around him. He had to stay healthy. He had to keep showing up in the big moments consistently enough that the city believed in him before the results fully proved them right.

So the better way to say it might be, it was inevitable only because of who he is, not because of what he had. A lot of people have talent, not everyone responds to pressure the way he does.

And now he has the Knicks in the NBA Finals for the first time in 27 years.

The league doubted him at every turn. He just kept proving them wrong.

But here is where the story gets even more special.

27 years ago, Rick Brunson who didn’t become an NBA Champion now gets to stand on the sideline as an assistant coach watching his son lead the same franchise back to the biggest stage in basketball. While he didn’t get to win, he raised someone who has a chance to.

And regardless of what happens during the finals, it’s not just a sports story anymore. It’s a legacy story. It’s a father planting a seed he never got to see fully bloom. Rick doesn’t just have a son. He now has a second chance.

I’m convinced basketball has the most compelling storylines of any sport. Once you start looking into the players and the history behind them it’s almost impossible not to care.

And what I love most is that the lessons translate. We may not all face the amount of pressure athletes have, but it’s proof that the blessings God places on your life do not come without challenges. Your perspective matters through the journey. And your success also depends on how you look at your circumstances. Because if you’re not careful you’ll actually start to believe what people say about you. That you’re too small. That you’re not good enough. That your moment already passed. You’ll think the blessing you received is actually a curse.

It’s a reminder not to let those words become your story. Jalen Brunson didn’t and look where he is now.

27 years in the making for the franchise. His testimony arrived right on time.

And now, there’s only one thing left to do… finish the job! <3

wellness activity

• Journal your own testimony. write down one thing you were told you couldn’t do that you did anyway. keep it somewhere you can see it and let it remind you of what you are capable of.

  • if you feel like sharing, drop it in the comments. i would love to cheer you on <3

    

    Leave a comment

brand stuff

• Oura Ring x Knicks - oura just dropped a thinner, beautiful ring and i’ve been trying to convince myself i don't need it, but i do. if you know me you know i am a loyal oura ring girl despite its fitness tracking shortcomings. and apparently they have been an official knicks partner since 2023 which i just found out and feel like i should have known sooner.

out my cart

• Suri toothbrush - an eco-friendly toothbrush that comes with a UV-C cleaning case that removes 99.9% of bacteria in one minute. it's the kind of thing you didn't know you needed until you have it and then you can never go back.

• Cymbiotika Vitamin C Immune + Collagen Support Liposomal - i was sick last week (and one too many times this year) so i decided that i need to focus on building up my immune system. these taste so good and have helped with my recovery.

You ever watch a movie and feel like anything is possible? Recently, I re-watched F1 and that’s exactly what it felt like. It gave me that post-movie theater motivational feeling right at home.

If you haven’t watched it yet, heads up: there might be spoilers in this report. But it’s all in good nature, because this week’s scrapbook page is less about a real sports story and more about sports cinema.

We see a real theme of the connection of sports to life through so many movies: Rocky and Creed, Real Steel, Southpaw, 42, Remember the Titans (to name a few). It’s always been synonymous. And sports cinema is often times where that connection hits hardest because it’s open and accessible to anyone wanting to enjoy a movie.

In F1 specifically, Sonny Hayes didn’t just love racing. He lived it. Breathed it.

He’s kind of character who reminds you what it looks like when someone is completely consumed by their craft. Racing wasn’t a job for him and i’d argue to even say it wasn’t even a passion. It was who he was. Every decision, every sacrifice and every moment came back to the track.

In 1993, a near-fatal crash at the Spanish Grand Prix ended his professional F1 career. It left Sonny with a neck fracture, a mid-back fracture and a doctor’s report that said racing again could cause paralysis, vision loss, or death.

It should have been the end of the story and for valid reason, most people would’ve walked away.

But he didn’t stop racing.

For 30 years, Sonny became a racer-for-hire. NASCAR Cup Series. Xfinity Series. 24 Hours of Le Mans. 24 Hours of Daytona, where he won the GTD class right before his return to F1. And when the F1 opportunity came, he actually wasn’t the team’s first choice. Or second. Or third. Or fourth…

People thought he was a has-been. It had been so long since he’d raced F1 that many doubted his ability, especially because his racing style was more spontaneous and untraditional. But he kept racing because racing was the only place he felt at peace.

Nonetheless, he was irreplaceable in the sport not because he was always the fastest (though he was fast), but because he understood racing at a level most people never reach. He saw lines others didn’t see and took risks others wouldn’t take. He pushed when everyone else would’ve pulled back. Racing was an art form to him.

And the movie doesn’t shy away from showing what that costs. The crashes and the comebacks. The moments when his body couldn’t keep up with what his mind demanded. The marriages that didn’t last. The relationships that fell apart because racing always came first.

I doubt this was because he didn’t care about the people in his life, but because he cared about racing more. And the film doesn’t romanticize that. It shows the toll. When you’re that obsessed with one thing, other areas of your life suffer.

Watching someone love something that much really strikes a chord. It makes you ask yourself: what do I love like that? What am I willing to go all in for?

Because honestly, I don’t think most of us live and breathe our dreams the way Sonny lived and breathed racing (and we’re not exactly supposed to). But we do play it safe. We keep one foot out the door just in case it doesn’t work out.

And the reality is, this is just cinema. Movies show us extremes. It’s not the best to neglect our relationships, our health or everything else in our life to chase one thing. Real life needs balance in ways cinema doesn’t.

But here’s what I do notice: We’re not in danger of loving our dreams too much. Sometimes, we’re actually in danger of loving them too little and letting fear talk us out of going all in.

So where can you push a little harder?

Maybe it’s finally booking that trip. Maybe it’s applying for the job you think you’re not ready for. Maybe it’s saying yes to the thing that scares you.

Personally, I keep artifacts (tickets, receipts, photos) not just for nostalgia, but as proof I did things scared. The jobs I accepted without having much experience. The trips I booked solo. The new classes I joined as a beginner. A scrapbook is full of moments where I pushed past fear.

And looking back at them reminds me: I’ve done hard things before. I can do them again (and so can you).

Sports cinema shows us what happens when you commit fully and when you make yourself irreplaceable not because you’re perfect, but because no one else has the same unique angle as you do.

So the question is, how far will you take your dreams?

Will you just love them? Or will you live them and make them so much a part of who you are that quitting isn’t the first option. Or the second. Or the third. Or the fourth?

Lately my articles have had a theme: God’s timing, choosing your own path, honoring your own tempo.

All the same message, honestly. But what kind of friend would I be if I didn’t remind you of the different ways that looks?

Sonny didn’t ask if racing was worth it. He just raced. And maybe that’s just another version of the lesson.

The people who go to the moon and back for their dreams don’t spend time wondering if they should. They just go.

wellness tip

• find (or make time for) your flow state activity- this is the thing where time disappears and you’re locked into a hobby you love. sometimes it’s something we loved as kids, that we need to re-visit as adults.

out my cart

• Nami Matcha Starter Kit - finally going to explore the endless matcha recipes i have saved on my phone

• No Particular Order, the everything card - so cute. i received a card like this for my birthday last year and thought it was a playful, fill in the blank letter for gift-giving.

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  talk soon

It’s officially the year of the underdog, especially when it comes to sports. If you were following the NBA playoffs, you’d know that the Sixers came back from a 3-1 deficit against the Celtics and ended up progressing to round 2. There’s something beautiful about a team that refuses to give up. If you missed that post, it’s below. There’s a ton of history behind that series that was incredible to watch.

But this weekend, I want to spotlight the Kentucky Derby, the most prestigious horse race in America, held every year in Louisville. Honestly, I had no clue what this was other than people dressing up in fancy hats, dresses and suits. It’s been running since 1875 and is known as “the most exciting two minutes in sports”. Twenty horses compete in a 1.25-mile race for a chance at the Triple Crown.

The Triple Crown is one of horse racing's biggest achievements (like a Super Bowl or NBA Champ). It requires a horse to win three core races in the same year - the Kentucky Derby (May 2), the Preakness Stakes (May 16), and the Belmont Stakes (June 6). Something only 13 horses in history have ever done.

What made this Derby unforgettable wasn't just that Cherie DeVaux became the first woman trainer to win. It was watching Golden Tempo and the jockey, Jose Ortiz surge from last place to first in the final stretch.

There’s something surreal about watching it unfold. It’s proof that even when you’re dead last, your race isn’t over. Things can change suddenly. One moment you’re at the back, wondering if you’ll ever catch up. The next, you’re crossing the finish line first.

Cherie DeVaux proves that an "overnight success" is never really overnight. The moment leading up to the win was something she had been preparing for for years. She's been training horses for over 20 years. She started at the bottom, mucking stalls and working her way up. She faced setbacks and rejection in an industry that's historically been dominated by men, but she kept showing up, running her own race, and trusting her process even when no one else believed.

Before 2026, only 19 horses trained by women had entered the Kentucky Derby in over 150 years. The odds were stacked against her, but she didn’t let that stop her from trying. You don’t enter a race knowing you’ll win. You enter for the chance to win. This is what happens when years of preparation meet the right moment. This is what stepping out on faith actually looks like.

This feels like God’s timing to me. Golden Tempo spent most of that race in last place. But when the moment was right, everything fell into place in seconds. He was exactly where he needed to be, exactly when it mattered.

Which has me thinking: we should honor our own tempo and stop worrying about being last. Stop watching who’s ahead. Find your opening. Run your race <3

Like Golden Tempo, your moment is coming, it’s just a matter of time.

other sporty stuff

• NBA semifinals: Knicks (2) vs. Sixers (0)- a battle of the east coast cities. knicks are in the lead!!

wellness tip

• switch up your weekend routine. try something different this weekend, even if it's small. new matcha spot, different pilates class time, explore a different neighborhood. switching up your routine reduces the feeling of boredom, builds adaptability, and helps you appreciate your life a little more from a new perspective.

out my cart

• flowers for mothers day - i've ordered from freshsends multiple times. very reliable option if you and your mom (or someone you know who's a mom) live in different states <3

memory bank

inspired by footballer, Jalen McMillan’s unique grocery store hobby, my local grocer has basically become my third space too. but instead of trying and collecting off-brand cereals like he does, i'm putting my own spin on it by testing healthier alternatives to popular items i loved growing up.

@bucsnflJ Mac’s avocado vanilla chips = a legendary Combine interview moment 🥣😅 #hobby #snack #chips #cereal #flavor

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• first swap: Reese’s peanut butter cups → Kyze peanut butter chocolate bar

  • i thought this would be a solid alternative, but i gave one to someone who usually eats reese's cups and they said they could taste the dates. so tread lightly lol. i'd rate this a 6.5/10 replacement. not bad, but not something i'd reach for or reorder.

• second swap: Ben & Jerry’s Vanilla → Ice cream for bears vanilla

  • love ice cream for bears. i’ll shout it from the rooftops. it made me forget how much i love ben & jerry’s. 9/10 replacement.

• third swap: Pop secret popcorn → Khloud popcorn

  • i was pleasantly surprised by khloud. it’s good, but the texture is noticeably different with the added protein. 7.5/10. to be fair, i tried the olive oil & sea salt flavor so it wasn’t as flavorful as other options might be.

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Happy Sixers Sunday (if you rooted for them),

I’m sipping on an iced vanilla latte with oatmilk and wanted to share a bite-sized take on why underdog stories mean so much to me. This is my first year ever closely following the NBA playoffs and there are a lot of great series happening right now, but the one I couldn’t look away from was the series between the Sixers vs Celtics. Yesterday it closed out in the most unexpected, emotional, full circle way. A 3-1 comeback that no one anticipated.

I watched game 7 last night in my VJ Edgecombe Sixers shirt, eating cookie dough ice cream, tempted to turn the TV off as the score got close toward the end. That’s how much I wanted them to win, but I’m not here to break down the game or to talk about what went wrong or what went right. It isn’t really about analysis for me.

It’s about the fact that both teams showed up. Both teams competed. But only one of them carried something extra into each arena. A weight that’s been sitting on the sixers since 1982. No wins against the Celtics in the playoffs in over 40 years. That’s not just a stat, that’s a mindset that gets passed down. “They always beat us.” But somewhere in the middle of this series, that stopped being true.

And that’s the part that got me emotional. Not the score. The rewrite.

Because showing up is one thing, but showing up when you’re also trying to break a 40 year curse is another thing entirely.

And I want to give the Celtics their flowers too. They're a seed 2 team for a reason and there's a unique pressure that comes with being at the top and staying there. We all have bad seasons. For some teams that means not making the playoffs at all. For great teams, it means not advancing in the playoffs. Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown have never missed the playoffs in their careers, so losing in Round 1 is their version of a hard year. And even that is something worth acknowledging.

I think there’s something deeply wellness related about an underdog story. It’s not just physical, it’s the decision to believe before you have any evidence to support the belief. To quiet the noise of people constantly doubting you or maybe even the doubts you put on yourself and to stay present in a moment that feels impossible. That’s not just athletic, that’s a practice. And most of us have had to do a version of it at some point in our lives, whether or not anyone was watching.

The comeback mindset isn’t about pretending things are fine. It’s about deciding that the loss doesn’t have the final say, even after 40 years.

As a Sunday reflection, I’ll just ask you this. Where have you been carrying a loss so long it started to feel like who you are? And what would it mean to finally rewrite it?

It doesn’t have to be a championship moment. Sometimes the rewrite is a decision you make on a random Tuesday or the thing you go back to after walking away from it for years.

It’s the moment you stop letting an old story define what’s possible for you now.

Whether you’re a Sixers fan or not, I think most of us know the weight of a long losing streak in some area of life. And sometimes that starts to feel less like bad luck and more like just who you are. But there is something special when we decide that it doesn’t have to be.

That’s the comeback. That’s your rewrite.

I know for me, part of why I always root for the underdog is because I’ve always been one. And if the Sixers can break a 40 year curse on a random Saturday night in May, I think the rest of us can find a little hope in that too.

Now… if you’ll excuse me, I have to mentally prepare for Round 2 against the Knicks. I’m a New Yorker. This is going to be a stressful one. My family might actually disown me if I root for the Sixers again, but for now PLAY THE SONG!!

The NFL draft just finished and over 200 dreams came true for NFL prospects (turned rookies).

I love this time of the off season because it’s a showcase of years of hard work and talent from athletes. It’s also where fans are able to show excitement over new talent and dynamics for their teams (and maybe some level of sadness as front offices make some surprising trades to players already on the roster).

But as someone who loves to see dreams come true, I’ve been paying very close attention to some of the athletes who stood out to me this week.

Sonny Styles — drafted by the Washington Commanders, Sonny is a 6'5" linebacker who ran a really fast time of 4.46 at the combine. I think he has the versatility to fit in many areas on defense (especially as a previous safety) and the athleticism that the commanders need. I found a Substack article that breaks down what makes him special if you want to read more. I’m looking forward to seeing him on the field.

Bullock's Film Room

What LB Sonny Styles Brings to the Washington Commanders

The Washington Commanders selected Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles with the seventh overall pick of the 2026 NFL Draft. At 6-foot-5, 244 pounds, Styles is one of the most athletic linebacker prospects in NFL history. That sounds like hyperbole, but…

Read more

a month ago · 38 likes · 63 comments · Mark Bullock

Arvell Reese — drafted by the New York Giants, Arvell has been into football since he was a kid. Like Sonny, Arvell is a linebacker who was his teammate at Ohio State. They even ran the same exact time of 4.46 in the combine (twinnn 🤞🏽). It’s a little ironic that they ended up being drafted to competing teams in the same division, but I’m sure it’ll still be fun to play each other twice a season. Arvell is really open about the fact that he had a 0.4 GPA at one point. He credits his previous coach, Coach Ginn, who took him under his wing and helped him build a better life. He took Arvell on college tours, put him in credit recovery and believed in him when others didn’t. That kind of mentorship changes lives. I think Arvell will be a great addition to the Giants and I personally would love to see a social media series of him getting introduced to New York culture.

Jeremiyah Love — drafted to the Arizona Cardinals as a running back. Jeremiyah's story really touched my heart. While he wasn’t formally diagnosed, a pediatrician suggested he may be on the autism spectrum. His parents chose not to have an official diagnosis and instead supported Jeremiyah’s unique perspective. Watching him succeed at this level is a reminder that different paths can lead to the same dream. He encourages people to be their authentic selves, no matter how different they may feel. Besides his great character, I think this highlight reel speaks for itself on what the Cardinals can expect :)

Jordyn Tyson — drafted to the Saints as a wide receiver, Jordyn credits all of his success to his faith journey and it's been beautiful to see. He has a tattoo that says "fear God” which to him means fear a life without him. Jordyn talks about persevering through doubt and setbacks while anchoring faith as the core foundation. He’s also known to be a very reliable, and excellent route-runner on the field. Excited to see what he'll do for his team.

@overtimeolaveWhat a SPECIAL MOMENT it was for Jordyn Tyson 🥹✝️⚜️ #jordyntyson #saints #nfl #edit #fyp

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Uar Bernard — drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles as a defensive tackle. Uar is an athletic beast from the International Player Pathways program. 6’4”, 306 pounds, 36-inch arms, 11-inch hands and a reported 4.63 speed time on the 40-yard dash. I’m not a numbers person, but I think his agility gives the Eagles a lot of edge to work with. The interesting part is, he’s never actually played a professional game of football before. But the Eagles have a history of drafting and developing IPP players like Jordan Mailata, who became an O-line star. Can't help but think, did young Uar who grew up in a small village in Nigeria know all the moments of adversity would lead him to the biggest stage in football... without needing to touch one?! Ready to see him in action on my team!!

Side note: I’ll be doing a series soon before regular seasons starts to break down football positions and make the game more accessible, so if you don’t know what the positions i’m referencing actually mean, I’ll have something you can refer to :)

These are the stories that remind me why I love the draft. It’s not just about who has the best stats or the fastest 40 time. It’s about the paths athletes took to get here.

Coach Ginn believing in Arvell when a 0.4 GPA could have been the end. Jeremiyah reframing what others saw as a limitation into his superpower. It reminds me that our challenges often guide us toward our greatest advantages.

And as fun as these origin stories have been to look into, I always think about the athletes who go undrafted.

The good news is that it’s not too late for them.

Going undrafted doesn’t mean the dream is over. It just means the path looks different. Some of the league’s best players were undrafted. They signed as free agents, proved themselves in training camp, and earned their spot through hard work and refusal to quit.

The draft is one door, but it’s not the only one.

other sporty stuff

• knicks are moving into round 2 of the playoffs!!!

• sixers have pushed their series against the celtics all the way to game 7 (the final game). a seed 2 team against a seed 7 team, needing to go to game 7?! excellent hustle to the sixers.

wellness tip

• chamomile tea (after late games) - i noticed playoff games tip off late, and between the postgame reactions and replaying the insane moments, chamomile tea has helped me wind down. it has a natural sleep compound that helps you relax and unwind. i make a cup right after the game, drink it while scrolling highlights for a few minutes, then brick my phone.

out my cart

• Omnilux Red Light Therapy Mask - i've been reading about the benefits of red light therapy and wanted to try it long-term for healthier, even skin. it’s one of my favorite game day pieces when i’m watching at home lol

• Lucky Honey [solidcore] Grip Socks - if you know me, you know i’m a [solidcore] girl through and through, and what better way to cement myself further in the brand than by buying their limited edition grip socks for class

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Hope you’re ready for a packed sports weekend. Between NBA playoffs and the NFL draft, there’s a lot happening, but this week’s scrapbook page belongs to the WNBA and our people’s princess, Azzi Fudd.

WNBA players are getting paid more (yay!!) Watching the salaries finally start to reflect what their hard work has been is one of my favorite things to witness this year. While this is good, I still believe the limit needs to keep being pushed. But for now, we’re moving in the right direction and that matters.

This week I’m dedicating a page of my scrapbook to Azzi Fudd.

She was just selected number one overall in the 2026 WNBA Draft by the Dallas Wings. Known for her shooting, her versatility and her warm personality, she’ll be joining her former UConn teammate Paige Bueckers on the Wings roster.

Like, imagine entering a new job and your best friend is already there. I think that kind of familiarity helps as she transitions into the league.

While there has been some noise around her personal life lately, at the end of the day, she achieved a major milestone and I really hope that doesn’t overshadow this moment.

What makes Azzi's story so admirable is everything she had to overcome to get here.

Multiple injuries including a season-ending ACL and meniscus tear in 2023. Her brothers helped her through rehabilitation. She leaned on family, showing up even when it was the hardest thing she could do.

Azzi recovered, came back stronger, and was named the 2025 NCAA Final Four Most Outstanding Player. That's not luck. That's character and faith.

On top of that, Azzi also just signed a multi-year deal with Jordan Brand. Truly one in azzillion.

I’m really happy for her and really looking forward to keeping up with Azzi and the WNBA this season.

If you’ve been WNBA-curious but didn’t know where to start, this season is your moment. Azzi and Paige on the same team again? That’s must-watch basketball.

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this weekend i’m watching:

• NBA Playoffs: Knicks vs. Hawks - Game 4 (Saturday, April 25th @ 6pm)

• NBA Playoffs: 76ers vs. Celtics - Game 4 (Sunday, April 26th @ 7pm, still rooting for the underdogs this series)

healthy-ish game day essentials:

NBA playoffs are in full effect, which also means eating good snacks during the games.

• Lesser Evil Popcorn - so good, i love the gold organic butter flavor. it reminds me of movie theater popcorn.

• Siete Potato Chips - this is my version of lay’s. i usually have this with a jersey mikes sandwich (the official sub sandwich sponsor of the NFL), but it’s also just been my go-to chip to eat by itself too right now.

• Ice Cream for Bears - one of my top favorite ice cream brands, i promise it’s so good. my friend recommended this to me and i’ve put my entire family (and now you <3) onto this too. made from all real and whole ingredients.

currently on repeat:

• Bieberchella unlocked a memory i forgot i had: being 13, watching youtube videos of Justin, learning every word to “one time.” his coachella set brought me right back and it reminded me why i love live events. sports and concerts both are about showing up for something that only happens once. you can watch the highlights later, but you can’t buy back the feeling of being there or watching live.

memory bank:

as an ex-finance girl, this is my version of compound growth. your memory bank matters just as much as your bank account. the stock market may be closed on the weekend but your memory bank can still be invested in :)

Last week I deposited:

• Buddy Buddy (NoHo, Manhattan) - new york’s first organic nut butter cafe and such a cool concept. perfect caffeine pre-game stop if you're headed up to MSG.

• Fatt Root (Westchester, NY) - worth the metro-north ride up, great for lunch. it’s an asian cuisine spot with dishes that are friendly to nut allergies, gluten-free and dairy-free diets.

• Gymshark (SoHo, Manhattan) - free to browse, great if you're outfit-building for an active sporty day.

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They were at an art gallery, sitting on a bench, when they noticed two men talking. One looked exactly like your typical finance executive on Wall Street. Clean cut, structured, probably had somewhere else to be. The other looked like art itself. Paint on his shirt. A little older. Free-spirited.

They were both looking at the same art piece, but they were living completely different lives and at some point after discussing the painting together, the finance guy asked, “What do you do for a living?” And the other man said, “Well, I surf around the world. I pick up work here and there. I just do what I love.”

He didn’t need much. A small apartment in a different country. Enough work to sustain his lifestyle and a life built around actually feeling alive.

The finance guy, on the other hand, had everything you’re supposed to want. A stable career. Structure. Responsibility.

But the conversation shifted.

They started talking about travel. The artsy man had this long list of places he’s surfed in, some i’d never even heard of, and the finance guy kept saying he always wanted to go there one day.

and then the artsy man just looked at him and said, “well… why don’t you?”

That’s the part that stuck with me and I think that’s the question most of us avoid answering, not because we don’t want a certain lifestyle, but because we’re used to waiting for the right time to live it.

And not because one life is better than the other, but it reveals something we don’t talk about enough.

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There’s a default blueprint many of us follow. Go to college. Get a stable job. Build a career. Stay in one place. Work your way up. Maybe travel when you can, or later on.

It’s not wrong. It works for a lot of people.

But it’s also passed down through expectations, environments, and what we’ve been shown is “normal.”

So what happens when “normal” gets disrupted on a large scale?

A version of this dream has started to shift in today’s economy. With everything happening, layoffs, AI, all of it, people are starting to question what they actually want out of their lives.

And I don’t think the problem is that this path exists.

I think the problem is how rarely we stop to question how it fits into the lives we want to live.

What really stayed with me about that story wasn’t the lifestyle itself. It was the difference between “wanting” and “doing.”

“I’ve always wanted to go there.” “I’ve always wanted to do that.”

We say those things so casually, but over time, they quietly become a list of experiences we never actually give ourselves permission to have.

If we’re being honest, how many of those things have you actually made time for this year? (Don’t worry if the answer isn’t much, there’s still time.)

The biggest difference between those two men wasn’t ambition. It was definition. One built a life around stability, responsibility, and providing. The other built a life around freedom, experience, and doing what he loved.

And both required trade-offs, just different ones.

It’s also easy to judge the more structured life and to look at someone working late or busy all the time and assume they’re doing it wrong. But a lot of the time, there are real responsibilities behind that. Things they care about, people they’re showing up for, or choices they’ve made for a reason.

I’m sharing the contrast because it’s hard to ignore, not because one life is better than the other. There’s no right or wrong, just what feels right for you.

But we don’t need to change our entire lives to start. Most of the time, it’s just about stopping the habit of pushing everything to “one day”.

It’s about being honest about the life you’re actually building and making small adjustments to make it feel more like you.

I also think what this story really unlocked for me is how limited our thinking can become without us even realizing it. We assume life has to look a certain way because it’s the version we see most often, but there are people living entirely different realities.

And on a smaller scale, sometimes it’s as simple as switching your routine, going to the game you’ve been thinking about (even if you have to go alone), trying the class you’ve been saving for, or even just taking a walk, exploring a new neighborhood, and getting out of the house for an hour.

It’s easy to compare one life to the next, especially on social media. But sometimes seeing someone live differently can actually spark something in you, a reminder that other ways of living are possible too.

At the same time, we’re all on our own timelines. No one is really ahead or behind, even if it might feel that way.

So what are you actually choosing?

This isn’t about quitting your job or moving across the world tomorrow. I wanted to write this just for awareness and because the story personally resonated with me.

Because it’s really easy to wake up one day and realize you built a life based on what made sense on paper, but not what actually mattered to you. And those aren’t always the same thing.

I’m saying this as someone who’s had to check myself on this too.

I know there’s a lot going on and life can be complicated in ways that are real. But it also doesn’t have to be this huge life change like social media makes it feel (unless that’s what you want).

Most of the time, it’s just something you’ve been thinking about that you finally decide to go do.

If I had kept waiting for the right time, the right person to go with, the right moment, I would have missed the Yankees breaking their homerun record. I would have missed meeting Jalen Hurts. I would have missed watching VJ Edgecombe play during his rookie season.

I would have missed the very things that fill this sports scrapbook.

None of those moments came from waiting. They came from just going.

So, who do you see yourself more in? The one who keeps saying “one day” or the one who just went?

At coffee shops, hair salons, work… one of the first questions is always “is that an Oura ring?” followed by “is it worth it?” So those are the two main questions I want to base this on.

And honestly, sometimes it makes me laugh because it also makes me wonder… is it really that subtle if people can instantly tell I have one on? Or has it just become such a recognizable piece of tech that people know it when they see it?

For anyone who hasn’t heard of it, before I actually knew what the Oura ring was, I thought of it as a cute Apple Watch alternative. I wore an Apple Watch for years, especially for workouts, but I hit a point where I wanted something a little more low key. Slightly more “demure,” lol. The apple watch aesthetics just weren’t doing it for me at the time, and the Oura ring immediately caught my attention.

But on a real note, what actually pulled me in was sleep.

I wanted to get more serious about tracking my sleep and recovery, and wearing an apple watch to bed just wasn’t comfortable for me. The Oura ring felt like a better fit for that part of my routine.

At its core, the Oura ring is wearable tech that tracks your sleep, recovery, and overall readiness using a range of biometrics. You wear it all day and night, and because it sits on your finger, it’s able to collect really detailed data that translates into insights about how your body is actually doing.

It’s really marketed toward people who want to understand their bodies better, especially when it comes to rest and recovery.

At the same time, while the aesthetics are definitely on point, it is still a pretty expensive piece of health tech ($300+), which is why I think so many people are curious but hesitant to actually buy it.

And that’s before even getting into the fact that once you buy the ring, you’re also paying a monthly subscription for the full insights. It’s not super expensive, but it does add up, and I can definitely see how that turns people away.

But after wearing it consistently for two years, I wanted to share what’s actually been worth it, what hasn’t, and what I wish I knew before getting it.

Sleep tracking

Love sleep. Like… if it were a hobby, it would easily be my top one.

This is where the Oura ring really stands out.

It breaks down how well you actually slept, not just how long you were in bed. Your readiness score, your sleep stages, how recovered your body feels going into the next day. It gives you a full picture.

It’s also just really comfortable to sleep in. Half the time I barely even notice it’s there, which was a big thing for me coming from the Apple Watch.

That said, you do want to make sure you get the sizing right. I would definitely recommend ordering the sizing kit first, because your hands can swell a bit, especially overnight, and you don’t want it to feel too tight.

But sleep is the kind of insight that you’ll either love or something that might stress you out a little. Because now you know when you didn’t sleep well.

But for me, I actually think that awareness is important, especially when it comes to recovery.

Recovery + Health insights

Now, this was the most insane discovery for me.

There have been times where it’s told me to slow down or flagged that my body might be under intense strain, even when I didn’t fully realize it yet. It gives early signals when you might be getting sick, which is kind of crazy to me.

I don’t get sick often (knock on wood), but the times I have, Oura actually picked up on it days beforehand. Call it a self fulfilling prophecy lol, but it was flagging stress and strain on my body through the biometrics before I even felt it myself.

It makes you a lot more aware of your body in a way that feels subtle but consistent.

It also tracks your daily stress levels, which is interesting because it can go both ways. It can either make you more aware of your stress, or… make you more stressed lol. But it can also be a really helpful signal that you need to slow down or reset.

And reading into the many stories out there where Oura really stands out. People catching early signs of illness, even things like pregnancy before they realized it themselves. It just shows how powerful that kind of data can be when it’s actually used well.

@hunterwoodhallShould have known something was wrong when our family dog slept right next to me all night

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Spoken from the Olympian himself, Oura can be lifesaving for athletes too.

And just to give you a real look into what the data actually looks like, here’s my sleep score and stress. And yes, I’m giving you my best days, because phew… if you saw my worst, my score might drop just from me typing this.

Workouts, and where it falls short

This is probably my biggest downside.

I really thought the Oura ring could replace my Apple Watch, especially for workouts, but it just can’t. The workout tracking isn’t great, and it’s definitely not something I rely on.

For example, I’d ideally want to track my [solidcore] workouts and other activities in a detailed way, and it just doesn’t fully deliver on that yet.

It can pick up on general activity and give you a sense of movement, but it’s not the same as having real time metrics or detailed workout breakdowns.

So if you’re someone who cares about that level of detail or likes actively tracking your workouts while you’re doing them, you’ll still want to keep your Apple Watch or another device for that.

For the girls

This is actually one of my favorite parts.

If you pair it with the Natural Cycles app, it becomes really helpful for cycle tracking. It just adds another layer of understanding your body in a way that feels easy and integrated into your daily routine.

Which, yes, is another added cost, i know… but women’s health is so important, and this just feels like a simple way to be more in tune with your body without overcomplicating it.

So, is it worth the $300–$500+?

Short answer:
it’s worth it for the right person, not everyone.

When it is worth it

it’s 100% worth it if you are someone who:

• cares about your sleep and recovery

• wants to understand your body on a deeper level

• prefers low effort, passive tracking (no notifications, no constant checking)

• values aesthetic + lifestyle fit just as much as functionality

This is where the Oura ring really shines.

It’s not trying to be everything, but it’s trying to be really good at helping you understand your body.

When it’s not worth it

it’s probably not worth it if you:

• care a lot about workout tracking and performance metrics

• want something that feels immediately interactive and rewarding

• don’t think you’ll actually look at or use the data

• are hesitant about paying for both the ring and the monthly subscription

• don’t really care about health tech

Because in those cases, you can just get an Apple Watch or equivalent workout or health tracker… or just live freely outside the wellness chokehold I’ve clearly put myself in lol.

Final thoughts

If you were thinking about getting an Oura ring, I hope this helped. If you just discovered this, that’s cool too, and honestly, if you didn’t care about this at all but still made it this far… I’m indebted to you endlessly lol.

And Oura, if you ever read this one day… hire me lol because regardless of the shortcomings, I do genuinely love ya.

Picture this:

It’s a Saturday morning, you’re heading to a run club, matcha in hand, looking forward to having an active morning. Or maybe it’s Sunday, you’re on the couch with a game on in the background.

Maybe it’s something else entirely.

And honestly, if none of that matches what you think of when you hear “sports,” it actually doesn’t have to.

Because being part of the sports world doesn’t look one way.

It can be playing, watching, or just building a lifestyle around movement and being active in your own way.

And I think that matters more than we realize.

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Because for a lot of people, the hardest part isn’t interest, it’s access.

There aren’t many spaces that actually teach you how to get into a sport, how to follow it, understand it, or feel part of it. So most people assume it’s not for them.

But the truth is, you don’t really learn sports from a manual. You learn by being around it, watching it, by picking things up over time and by talking about it with other people. By being part of the environment, even if you don’t fully get it yet.

Also, sports fans are actually some of the most welcoming people. Every game I’ve been to, every person i’ve interacted with online, there’s always been someone willing to answer a question or explain what’s going on.

And that’s what I want this to be, a way in.

When the barrier to entry is low, people are more willing to try.

And once they try, they start to understand. They recognize players, follow storylines, get familiar with the game.

What starts as just showing up for the vibes slowly turns into real interest.

That’s how people become fans, not all at once, but over time.

Weekend Report isn’t traditional. I probably won’t ever be here breaking down stats or analyzing every play because I care more about the experience of it.

Like this year, I 100% plan on going to the US Open, trying the food, getting the iconic honey deuce cocktail, and walking through all the brand activations.

Do I know much about tennis? Not really, but I don’t really need to.

It’s proof you don’t need to know everything to be part of that.

Even knowing a little bit, like recognizing a player, following a team, understanding the basics, can open the door to connection with your friends, your family, even complete strangers.

It gives you something to talk about, share, and be part of.

Most of the time, I’m learning too, reading Substacks from people who actually know the game and picking things up as I go.

Like I enjoy watching basketball, but I still have to search “what’s a backcourt again?” (other than it being in the back of the court…?).

And somehow, I still ended up making sports one of the main topics of these letters.

I also think sports are meant to be experienced, kind of like wellness.

For some people, the two are one. But I hope Weekend Report is a reminder that living sports matters just as much as watching them.

There’s a whole world around it, and it’s just as interesting. I promise, sometimes it’s even more interesting than your reality TV show (I mean… remember the Luka Doncic trade situation?).

But anyway, you don’t need to know anything to wear a cute outfit and sip a honey deuce by a tennis court with your friends.

However you choose to show up, it still counts.

And if you’re already deep into sports (I admire you!), you definitely don’t need this. But if you want to learn a little more (or convince your friend to), I’m sharing a few resources below.

Simple intro videos for the NFL and NBA, these are very much for the girls, but honestly, they made learning funny and way more fun.

Feel free to send this to the person you’ve been trying to convince to go to a game.

And if you ever feel intimidated by the sports jargon, I’ll be saving you a seat (and a snack) at my table.

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Sundays, (Monday & Thursday nights) were always a core part of my routine so without it, it feels like something is missing.

But, this weekend, we got a version of it back.

The Fanatics Flag Football game isn’t the NFL, but it carries pieces of it. It’s also a chance to see some of our favorite players on the same field, in different dynamics playing together in a way you normally wouldn’t across the 32 NFL clubs.

To me, it feels a little more relaxed, but still competitive enough to remind you what you’ve been missing.

It’s not the same, but it doesn’t have to be.

And seeing a super athletic roster, like Tom Brady and Jalen Hurts on the same team, makes you realize how rare it is to see talent like that share the field in that way.

Also Saquon and Odell. Players you’re used to watching in completely different contexts, now part of the same game.

Even seeing someone like iShowSpeed out there, who isn’t from the league but is clearly athletic in his own right, added another layer to it.

But specifically, seeing Odell’s one-handed catch in 2026 felt like a blast from the past.

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@nfl#odellbeckhamjr with the sick grab 😮‍💨 #nfl #joeburrow #jaydendaniels

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And watching him play in the flag football game reminded me of his career. For a second, I honestly thought he had retired. I’ve always associated him with the Giants, so seeing him out there again really brought me back.

From being drafted to the Giants to becoming one of the most recognizable players in the league, Odell basically had a very strong association with New York (and still does).

After his iconic one-handed catch during his rookie season, his name was everywhere. It wasn’t just a great play, it became part of the culture, and in a lot of ways, that moment accelerated everything.

Kids started to look up to him, dye their hair blonde, and talk about the catch on recess. It felt like a movement.

But with that came a version of him people didn’t always understand.

He was emotional. You’d see it on the sidelines, sometimes even during the game. Odell had a ton of frustration, passion and intensity, but It didn’t always come across the right way, and it always became the headline.

It’s also hard to separate that from how much he cared. Two very high emotions on both ends.

When you love something that deeply, your emotions are going to show. Especially in a sport like football, where everything is physical, fast, and constantly under a microscope.

But at the same time, there’s something to be said about staying composed and regulated in those moments.

When the Giants traded him, it definitely changed how that chapter ended.

But moments like his one-handed catch don’t really belong to just one point in time. That play alone feels like a snapshot of a different era of football.

And I think that’s the part that sticks.

Not just the highlights, but the reminder that careers aren’t always clean or linear. You can be incredibly talented, widely celebrated, and still misunderstood.

And regardless of how everything played out, I still hope one day he gets to retire as a Giant.

Because maybe the past isn’t something you outgrow or leave behind.

Maybe it’s something you come back to over time, and each time, it looks a little different because you are.

OBJ edits

• Odell’s heart is in New York

• the OBJ movement

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This has been one of the most meaningful sports moments of the year, so I wanted to dedicate this page of my scrapbook to Jalen Hurts.

I had the chance to meet him at his book signing in New York, and it felt like a full circle moment. Not just because of the meeting itself, but because of everything his story represents.

His career reflects resilience, discipline, and faith. Watching how he has navigated setbacks and doubt from the media while staying grounded has always been compelling to watch.

But what made this moment feel surreal was not just meeting someone worth admiring. It was recognizing how his journey mirrors so many of ours in different ways.

Jalen’s path to the NFL wasn’t straightforward. He started at Alabama, lost his starting position, and transferred to Oklahoma to prove himself. He was drafted in the second round, not the first. Many questioned whether he could lead at the highest level.

But he kept showing up. He became the Eagles’ starting quarterback, led them to the Super Bowl in 2023, and lost. The doubts got louder. The criticism intensified. People wondered if he had what it took to win.

He went back to work. Stayed disciplined. Stayed faithful. And in the 2024 season, he led the Eagles back to the Super Bowl and won.

His story isn’t just about talent. It’s about resilience, preparation, and refusing to let setbacks define the ending.

Similar to how Jalen has been doubted throughout his career, many people face their own share of rejection while chasing something meaningful.

But some seasons are not meant to define you. They are meant to prepare you.

Moments like this remind me that the path is rarely linear. The seasons that feel the most uncertain are often the ones positioning you for what comes next.

Meeting Jalen Hurts was an incredible moment, but the real takeaway for me was the reminder behind it.

Trust the season you are in.

Trust the process, even when it feels uncomfortable.

And trust that God may already be opening doors you cannot see yet.

If you have ever felt overlooked, underestimated, or unsure about what comes next, I hope this reminds you that your story is still unfolding.

And for anyone interested, the book Jalen was signing is called Better Than a Touchdown. While it is written as a children’s book, the message is something adults can learn from too. It tells a beautiful story about how we respond to challenges and setbacks. I loved the visuals and the reminder that resilience, humility, and faith are lessons worth learning at any age.

I’ll read it to my future kids one day <3

As always, go birds.

But the truth is that the sports world runs on an entire ecosystem of people behind the scenes.

And once you start noticing those roles, you realize how many different ways you can be part of the sports world.

While your career and your passions don’t have to always be one, I’ve been inspired by some of the people i’ve seen merge the two.

I’ve especially noticed it here on Substack. There are so many incredible sports writers sharing thoughtful analysis, storytelling, and perspectives on the games they love. It’s been really fun discovering new voices and seeing how many different ways people are building careers or passions around sports.

But that’s just one corner of culture.

From brand experience managers and social media teams to photographers and event operators, there are so many people helping shape the behind the scenes.

So I figured this week it might be cool to explore what a career in sports might look like.

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Brand Experience Manager

Sports teams and clubs are some of the most recognizable brands in the world. Every time fans walk into a stadium, watch a game, or interact with a team online, they’re stepping into that brand experience.

And that experience doesn’t just happen on its own.

There are people behind the scenes thinking about how everything feels for the fans, from the visuals and storytelling to the atmosphere on game day. It’s about creating something that makes people feel connected to the team.

When you think about it that way, sports are about so much more than the game itself. They’re about identity, community, and the moments fans remember long after the score.

I’ve been following Tianna Marie on social media, where she documents her dream job as a Brand Experience Manager for the Detroit Pistons. Earlier in the year, she shared a fan experience they created for kids, and it was honestly the cutest thing. It was such a great reminder that someone is actually designing those moments fans get to experience.

New York Knicks x New York or Nowhere x Chase also did something similar with Best Friends Night at MSG. They celebrated friendship and fan energy including a friendship bracelet giveaway.

Social Media Manager

Another role I’ve been noticing more lately is social media manager.

Sports have always been about community, but social media has completely changed how fans interact with teams. The conversation doesn’t just happen in the stadium anymore, it’s happening online all day long.

From game-day highlights and behind the scenes moments with athletes, social media teams help give fans a closer perspective even when they’re watching from home.

In a lot of ways, social media managers become the voice of the team online. They’re the ones capturing the personality of the players, the excitement of the fans, and the little moments that make sports culture feel alive.

And when you think about it, those posts are often the things fans remember just as much as the games themselves.

@alexiskennedydaviswork can be fun sometimes :) #fyp #wnba #wnbaallstars

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Sports Photographer / Videographer

Some of the most iconic moments in sports aren’t just remembered because they happened, they’re remembered because someone captured them at exactly the right time.

From game winning celebrations to sideline reactions, photographers and videographers are constantly watching the game through a different lens.

In many ways, they’re the people responsible for documenting sports history as it unfolds.

And like a lot of the roles behind the scenes in sports, it’s a reminder that the culture around the game is built by so many people whose names we might not always know, but whose work we see every day.

And while those were some of the roles that really draw fans into the experience, they’re still just a small (but really important) part of how a team actually works.

Behind every game is an entire ecosystem of people making it happen, from operations teams and analysts to media staff and coordinators. It’s a reminder that sports aren’t just built by the athletes on the field, but by so many different roles working behind the scenes.

And of course, an honorable mention has to go to commentators, the voices we hear narrating the game as it happens. Someone joked that every broadcast should have one die-hard fan from each team in the booth instead.

Which honestly sounds hilarious… until you imagine what that would sound like during a rivalry game.

Anyway whether you’re on the field, behind the camera, running a team’s social media, or just watching from the stands, sports have a way of bringing people together.

And the more I learn about the world behind the game, the more it reminds me that there really is a place for everyone in sports.

And if you happen to be someone exploring that path right now, I came across a few interesting roles recently that show just how wide the sports ecosystem really is:

• Content Strategy Manager, NBA

• Player Engagement Manager, NFL

• Partner Management and Activation, MSG

• Sports Strategy Manager, Amazon Prime

• Network Analyst, NBA

Just a small reminder that the sports world is a lot bigger than what we see on the field.

in case you missed the first report, here it is:

Think of this as another page ripped from my sports and wellness scrapbook, except this week’s didn’t come from a game.

Recently, I’ve looked into Fernando Mendoza, a quarterback at Indiana, who gained attention for using LinkedIn to announce his intention to enter the 2026 NFL Draft.

I thought using LinkedIn was a smart and quirky move. It also makes sense given how strong the athlete to brand pipeline has become. Being an athlete today isn’t just about the game, it’s about the culture and partnerships that surround it. It’s a reminder that even at the highest level of competition, having opportunities outside of your main job can make a huge difference long term.

Fernando’s story is really special. A two-star recruit from Miami who chose Indiana to rewrite his narrative. He wasn’t the headline coming out of high school. He wasn’t the safe bet. He chose the harder path and became the first player in Indiana school history to win the Heisman Trophy.

That alone is historic.

What stands out even more is what he represents. Beyond the accomplishments, he carries himself like a true leader. Humble. Kind. Calm. Underdog stories remind us that doubt is not destiny.

I’m really excited to see where he lands in the draft later this year (likely No.1 overall pick).

He had an incredible season where he led his team to an undefeated National Championship, so I’m sure plenty of teams will have their eyes on him heading into the draft.

I came across this video of the letter his mom wrote him before a big moment in his college career <3

what i’m watching

It’s a very Philly sports weekend for me. I’ve been catching up on what changes the Eagles (Go Birds!) are making this offseason and thought this video Jason Kelce made about the new Offensive Coordinator was really interesting.

After last season’s struggling offense, he’s suggesting there might be more hope for the Eagles next year (so fingers crossed). This will also be Jalen Hurts’ 7th Offensive Coordinator in his NFL career… but hey, 7th time’s a charm?

On a final note, I just saw something about KD having a burner account?!

Bleacher Report posted this and while I’m admittedly out of the loop on nearly everything NBA right now, should I be using this as a quick recap?

in my cart

• classic VJ Edgecombe Tee

• Hatch alarm - i’ve have one for a while, but looking for an upgrade - improved my entire night-time routine

Anyway, in the meantime, I’ll be learning about the basics and positions in basketball

When we are younger it usually involves something like wanting to be an astronaut, a doctor, a singer, or for some of us, a professional athlete. It’s the kind of dream that feels really far away but somehow still possible when you’re 10.

Some of us change our dreams along the way, but others know exactly what they want to be from the very start.

Neither path is better than the other, but going all in on your dream takes an undeniable belief in yourself and in God.

Walking by faith and not by sight is part of the anatomy of a dream, and we see it time and time again in the world of sports.

Becoming an athlete takes a special kind of mindset. They keep going even if they want to give up. They believe in something long before there is any proof that it will work out.

For many of them, there simply is no Plan B.

I was never really an athlete growing up. I mean, I was technically on my high school track team for like three days before I quit (does that even count?).

Anyway, in an effort to honor my teenage dreams, I bought a pair of Brooks and am finally going to start running (the NYC Marathon videos last year really got to me).

It also made me realize that we do come back to some dreams, even if they look different the second time around.

Athletes are just built different. They go all in, even when the path is uncertain.

Which is why I found myself going down a bit of a YouTube rabbit hole and came across a channel called The Anatomy of a Dream.

The video explains the “Speed Paradox,” where trying to accelerate success actually slows you down in the long run. It usually comes from feeling behind or pressured by what you see online, which I think a lot of us can relate to.

It also introduces the idea of starting with the smallest possible version of your dream. Not the final form, not the polished end result, just something that works. It’s called the Minimum Viable Product, or MVP, which is basically permission to start before you actually feel ready to.

From there, we’re introduced to the “Success Loop,” which is just:

1. Start

2. Fail faster

3. Pivot

Take action, learn from what did not work, and adjust. Skipping any part of that loop can trap you in a “Speed Trap,” whether that looks like forcing something that is not working, constantly changing direction without learning anything, or overthinking to the point where you never start at all.

Dreams rarely fail because of one big mistake. They usually fail because we try to sprint through something that was always meant to be built slowly.

And we see this play out with athletes all the time.

Jalen Hurts was benched on the biggest stage of his college career, made it the league, got to the Super Bowl, lost and was ridiculed publicly. There were plenty of moments where he could have given up, but instead he kept showing up, adjusting, and working through adversity until he eventually made it back to the Super Bowl and won.

Simone Biles stepped away from competition at the height of her career when her mind was not fully aligned with her body during the Olympics. For someone whose entire dream was built around precision and control, that moment could have easily felt like the end. Instead, she took the time she needed and came back stronger.

It takes courage to rise after you fall.

And there is a common thread in all of these stories that brings me back to the “Success Loop.”

None of these athletes rushed the process. They started. They failed. They adjusted. And they kept going.

They did not try to accelerate success just because they felt behind. They trusted the process even when the outcome was uncertain.

And while running was never necessarily the dream for me growing up, I want to prove to myself that I can do it now.

Maybe the dream you have now is not the same one you had when you were ten. Maybe it’s something new, or something you are coming back to after years of putting it off.

Either way, I think there is something powerful in starting where you are and allowing yourself to believe that it is possible.

And while most of us are not training for the Olympics or the Super Bowl, I think there is something we can take from that.

Sometimes the anatomy of a dream is simply starting.

Think of this as me ripping a page out of my weekly sports scrapbook and sharing it with you <3

Ever since I was younger, sports have been the thread that connected me with my family. From watching my brothers play 2K or watching the All Star games together, my love for sports only grew stronger with time.

To me, it’s an entire lifestyle where community and a love for the game connect. Sports show up in the way we spend time together, what we talk about at dinner, and what we watch on socials.

Weekend Report is my way of keeping track of everything I’m learning about the game and the world surrounding it, from cultural moments to business moves to the little things that make being a fan feel personal.

As I keep up with the sports world, I wanted to share what’s been catching my attention along the way :)

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all over my timeline

Now that the NFL season is officially over, I need to find a new sport to lock into. Besides it being a weekend of love, it was also NBA All Star Weekend, (which is basically the same thing). I’ve been catching up on socials from the games to the contests, it felt like the entire sports world was tapped in.

• VJ Edgecombe was the rising stars MVP - love VJ, he’s just such a likable player !!!

• Anthony Edwards was the all star MVP - love this for him

• Knicks won the shooting stars competition

edits

genuinely cannot skip a sports edit when it comes across my timeline. It feels illegal.

• The generator !!! -bringing this one back to the surface, his edits never get old to me :)

• “aka Ant Man, your favorite hoopers favorite hooper” 🔥

brand stuff

• Kith x NBA All Star 2026 Collection - really love the vintage tees from this drop. Kith always has really nice pieces.

• Jordan Brand x Levi’s - feels like a nostalgic partnership - what do we think about it?

• Nike x Skims - love the baby pink pieces. this feels like a merge of pilates princess and athlete off duty.

  

in my cart

• Forme - designed by an orthopedic surgeon to improve posture and musculoskeletal health.

  • apparently Taylor Swift used this to prep for a tour so let’s see if it’s worth it.

If there’s anything I learned from this week besides understanding what a backcourt is (lol), it’s that following the game is just as much about the culture around it as it is about what happens on the court.

Not actually my team, but our NFC bird cousins are as close as I’ll get to saying “Go Birds” today.

No shame if you’re going for the six-time Super Bowl winning Patriots either. I’m sure Tom Brady is feeling pretty nostalgic today.

But whether you’re watching for the game, the halftime show, or really just for the commercials, here are the questions everyone asks (or has asked) every Super Bowl Sunday.

You know I couldn’t leave you hanging when it comes to my favorite sport.

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Super Bowl FAQs

Where, When & How do I watch?
Super Bowl LX is hosted at the Levi's Stadium in the San Francisco Bay area, starts at 6:30pm E.T. / 3:30pm P.T. and will be broadcasted live on NBC and streamed on Peacock.

Who’s playing?
Seattle Seahawks vs. New England Patriots (and Bad Bunny if you count halftime as the main event).

Why is it such a big deal?
It is the final game of the NFL season and determines who performed the best all year. So in corporate terms, it’s when your performance is reviewed and yearly bonus finally hit your bank account lol.

How long does the game last?
The game is 60 minutes of actual gametime but, split into four quarters. With commercials, timeouts, and the halftime show, you can probably expect around 3 to 4 hours of fun (or boredom) in total.

What do they win?
The legendary Lombardi Trophy, named after Vince Lombardi, one of the most highly regarded coaches in NFL history. The trophy itself serves as a symbol of greatness, hard work and dedication for the team receiving it.

I just don’t get football, can you explain?
I got you! So basically all you need to know today is:

• One team has the ball and tries to move it down a really long 100+ yard field.

• They get four tries, to move the ball ten yards down the field.

  • If they succeed, they get another set of four tries to keep moving the ball (by either passing, throwing or running with it).

  • If they fail to do this, their opponent now has a chance to move the ball with the same rules (by either passing, throwing or running with it)

  • Each team will work hard to stop their opponent from scoring points.

• The primary goal is to score a touchdown all the way at the end of the field (6 points).

  • When a touchdown is scored, the player will do a lil dancey dance at the end of the field.

Simply put, each team just takes turns to score points.

Do you have to be a football fan to enjoy it?
Not at all. Before regularly watching football, I would watch the Super Bowl just for the commercials. It is one of those events where the game, the entertainment, and the social aspect all matter.

Regardless of your reason for watching, you can still make the best memories. Especially indoors if you’re in New York. It’s so cold.

If you have any questions, I’m here for you!

Hope you enjoy the game and eat all the food you want :)

xoxo,

Day

p.s. If you forget everything above, just ask “who are we rooting for again?” halfway through the game and that’ll do lol.

Not all sports events create a case of FOMO. Some are fun to watch on a screen at home, some are fun to talk about, but every now and then there are a few that actually feel worth leaving your house for.

I’m talking about the ones you plan trips around, request time off work for, and still think about months later.

This isn’t a definitive list, and it’s definitely not about seeing everything. It’s about the weekends where the energy is magnetic and the experience is bigger than just the game itself.

So here’s my (dream) 2026 sports calendar and the sports weekends that I think we should take PTO for <3

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To make this easier to actually plan around, I broke it down by quarter. Think of this as a rough guide for when you might want to start saving days off from work.

Q1

January, February & March

• Super Bowl
  February in San Francisco. Even if you never go to another NFL game, this one feels like a real cultural moment, but it is very pricey and just as fun to watch at home or at a sports lounge.

• SXSW
  March in Austin, Texas. Not a sports event exactly, but sports shows up in a big way outside of gameplay now. Panels, athletes, brand activations, and a lot of crossover between media, tech, and sports.

• NASCAR early-season races
  This seems like a great time to catch NASCAR before the schedule gets packed and chaotic.

Q2

April, May & June, when the calendar starts filling up fast

• Formula 1 Miami Grand Prix
  May. An exciting racing event with good weather and a lot going on.

• Cannes Lions
  June. Not necessarily fan-facing, but sports is absolutely part of the conversation here now. Teams, leagues, athletes, and brands all in one place.

• MLB games
  Spring games are underrated. Easier tickets and better weather. I remember going to a game where the New York Yankees set a franchise record by hitting nine home runs in a single game. The energy was electric. Games like that make you want to stop time.

Q3

July, August & September, when sports trips feel like actual vacations

• Wimbledon
  July. Really hard to get into, but iconic. Even being in London during Wimbledon week probably feels special.

• Formula 1 (European summer races)
  Peak F1 season. Great excuse to travel if you’ve ever wanted to pair racing with a real vacation.

• US Open
  Late August into September in NYC. One of the easiest major tournaments to attend. Seeing the matches and brand activations are probably worth the PTO alone.

Q4

October, November & December, when you’re using the last of your PTO

• Formula 1 United States Grand Prix
  October. One of the easiest F1 races to attend and consistently one of the most fun.

• NASCAR Cup Series (playoff races)
  Higher stakes and aggressive racing.

• NFL and NBA games
  This is when games start to feel more serious. Rivalries matter more and the energy is just so much fun in-person.

• NYC Marathon

  Not your typical sports event, but the energy in NYC around the marathon always feels so hopeful and community-oriented.

If there’s one of these you’ve already been thinking about, this is me encouraging you to actually go.

Let me know if I missed anything :)

Beyond the excitement, it’s a direct connection to life. Watching the game reminded me how much of it is about preparation long before recognition.

Athletes dedicate years and work their entire lives for a chance to play professionally. The consistency doesn’t really make headlines immediately, only after the work is put in.

Getting to see VJ Edgecombe play during his rookie season made this even more special. He grew up in Bimini, a seven-mile island in the Bahamas where resources were limited and life moved at a different pace. He built basketball hoops out of crates. For parts of his childhood, his home relied on a generator for power. There weren’t fancy gyms or endless exposure. Just a small community, consistency, and showing up with what he had.

Watching his journey reminded me how much growth happens far away from the spotlight. Discipline is built in quiet moments. Preparation doesn’t always look glamorous. Sometimes it looks like doing the same thing over and over again, without certainty that anyone will notice.

It’s surreal seeing someone’s dream become a reality right in front of you. You’re witnessing the result of all that preparation in real time.

A reminder that where you start doesn’t limit where you’re called to go.

Sometimes the most powerful foundations are built in places the world overlooks and the opportunities meant for you don’t pass you by while you’re doing the quiet work. They meet you there.

Patience isn’t passive. It’s active trust. It’s choosing to stay committed even when progress feels slow. It’s believing that obedience, discipline, and faithfulness compound, even when no one’s watching yet.

Last night was fun, but the real takeaway came later when I realized how comforting it is to know that nothing truly meant for you can be outrun or misplaced.

What God has for you has your name on it. So wherever you are in your own long game: waiting, building, or growing quietly, I hope this is your reminder: you’re not behind. You’re becoming.

That’s my description of Blooming Hill Farm. It’s one of those places that makes you forget how fast you were moving an hour ago.

Very quickly became one of my most anticipated spots on my food bucket list and I have to say, it does live up to the hype.

Everything tastes super fresh, almost like it actually came from right outside (because it did).

The entire atmosphere is relaxed but thoughtful. The staff were super kind, the space feels cozy, and you can tell they care about what they’re serving and how they’re serving it.

What I appreciate most is that Blooming Hill isn’t just serving food, it’s shaping how you spend your time. Meals feel wholesome, conversations become a bit longer and you’re reminded that nourishment isn’t only about what’s on the plate, but how you’re invited to experience it.

I’m happy I get to share this spot with you because it is my favorite of the year and I made us a resy :)

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orders:

French toast bread pudding - this was so delicious, it wasn’t too sweet, but tasted very fresh and authentic. it’s just so beautiful too.

Farm smash burger - loved this burger, super light and tasty.

Iced coffee with oat milk - i would pass on this. i did enjoy it, but you can see by the color, it’s mostly milk lol

This is just a small teaser, for now. There’s so much more on the menu that we can try together one day.

helpful tip

• Download a map of the area ahead of time. reception can be spotty once you’re close to the farm, so it might be best to save directions on apple maps.

10/10 worth the drive.

and if you need me, i’ll be back at Blooming Hill pretending i live there.

talk soon!

:)